Week Thirty Six

Greetings Friends,


Can you believe we are already one week into July?  Summer seems to be whizzing right on by.  Maybe it will slow down some now that summer school has ended (my last day was Friday).  It seemed pretty surreal to pack up my last few boxes and close the door to my classroom for the last time.  God has been so gracious to me in allowing me to serve at Hope Academy for three years!  I am thankful for the sweet relationships I have gained and the many ways God revealed himself to me through the staff and students.  Hope will always hold a special place in my heart! 

Here are a few fun pool photos from my last day with the kiddos:

Speaking of July, how did you all spend the fourth?  The husband and I had to stick close to home considering our little guy could come a little early.  On the fourth we went to our first Twins Game at the new (outdoor!) Target Field.  We had a great time and were thankful for a spot in the shade considering it was well over 90 degrees.  I had at least two women tell me to drink plenty of water and one told me where I could find guest services "just in case" :). 

 Here are a few pictures from the day:

 the bump

Have a great weekend everyone!  

Josh and I are off to a wedding (I love wedding cake :) )!

Much Love,

Jen

How to Spend a Snow Day?

This year marks my third year working as a teacher.  In those three years we have never had a snow day...and now we have had two snow days in the last two days!  On Monday morning I felt like a giddy child when I saw Minneapolis Public Schools (our school corresponds to their closings) on the wcco school closings website.  I could hardly go back to sleep.  One idea after another kept popping into my head about how I was going to spend the day.  I've been thankful for these past two days at home.  I feel refreshed and ready to go back to school.  Here are a few things I enjoyed while being snowed in...
                                                  extended time reading and journaling

baking muffins with my new Kitchenaid (recipe to come :) )!

writing Christmas cards to my kindergartners

How do you like to spend a snow day?

Saturday School

I went to school this Saturday; that's right, I taught on a Saturday!  Two Saturdays a year families join their children to spend a half day at Hope in their child's classroom.  It was a fun day.  The kids were really looking forward to it; each day we would count down on the calendar the number of days left before "Saturday School". 

After school Angela Swan (first grade teacher) and I headed to the park with some of our students and families for a family photo shoot. 

"W" Family

"H" Family

"P" Family

"M" Family

This was my last family to take photos of so I took my time :)

What beautiful families!  I love my job :)

A Cup of Hot Cocoa

I have been blessed abundantly by working at Hope Academy.  Every morning the staff come together to share Scripture and pray before students arrive.  On Tuesday one of my teaching friends encouraged us to love God more by sharing a story with us.  This story was a collection of children's thoughts on God (their adorable illustrations accompanied each page).  My favorite entry was written by a young girl, six years old as I recall,  who wrote, "God's love is like drinking hot cocoa after you've been pushed into the snow".  What a beautiful understanding of God's love!  These little ones can teach me so much!